You might have probably heard of the saying, ‘You are what you eat’. A healthy diet usually improves your mood, health and attitude. However, what if healthy food itself is making you feel sick? What if food that is supposed to be good for your body is causing you a variety of uncomfortable symptoms such as abdominal pain, bloating, diarrhea, and gas? Having an unpleasant reaction to something that you ate is not always a food allergy. It may be something else, a condition known as food intolerance.
What is food intolerance?
A food intolerance is when you have difficulty digesting certain foods. It means that your gut is sensitive to that particular food and can’t tolerate it. When you consume such food, you may experience uncomfortable symptoms like gas, diarrhea, cramps or headaches. Though it’s not serious, eating such foods can make you feel unwell. Food intolerance is quite common. In fact, it’s estimated that up to 20% of the world’s population may have a food intolerance. Its symptoms usually start within a few hours of eating the food that your body is supposedly intolerant to.
Food intolerance is usually confused with food allergy, however, they are not the same thing.
Food intolerance vs food allergy
Though some symptoms of food intolerance and food allergy are the same, knowing the differences between the two are very important. Food intolerances take place in the digestive system where you are unable to properly break down the food. This could be due to enzyme deficiencies or lactose intolerance. Often, people can eat small amounts of the food without having any major side-effects.
A food allergy on the other hand, involves the immune system. Your immune system controls how your body defends itself. For instance, if you have an allergy to peanuts, your immune system identifies peanuts as an allergen. Unlike food intolerance, a food allergy can cause severe or even a deadly reaction by consuming, touching or even inhaling the food.
Symptoms of food intolerance
Food intolerances can result in symptoms that can affect various systems of your body:
- Digestive problems
This is the prominent symptom highlighted of them all, in the case of food intolerance. It includes bloating, gas, diarrhea, constipation, and abdominal pain.
- Headaches and migraines
Some individuals face problems such as headaches or even migraines after eating some foods.
- Fatigue
The continuous struggle the body undergoes with foods that it cannot properly break down may lead to tiredness or fatigue.
- Skin issues
Food intolerance might aggravate skin conditions such as eczema or rashes by triggering inflammatory responses in the body. This can lead to flare-ups or worsening of symptoms.
How to deal with food intolerance
- Identify the trigger foods
If you want to manage food intolerances effectively, you’ll first have to find out which food aggravates your symptoms. Keep a food diary which helps you record the food you eat and the symptoms that you may experience.
- Read food labels carefully
Learn to read food labels and recognize hidden sources of your trigger foods. So, it’s vital to understand product labels to avoid unintended consumption.
- Get tested
If you are unsure about which foods are causing your discomfort, speak to your healthcare provider about getting tested for food intolerances. Blood tests and skin prick tests can help identify specific food allergies and intolerances.
- Consult a dietitian
A registered dietitian or nutritionist can provide advice to help you navigate food intolerances while maintaining a balanced diet. You can consult with them to avoid foods that trigger your symptoms.
Instead of trying to do everything yourself, you can also take the support of a health and wellness app such as RightLife to develop a personalized diet plan and also address your food intolerances. The EatRight program of the app allows you to enjoy meals that support your health.
How RightLife helps you manage food intolerance
EatRight cleverly manages food intolerances by offering personalized meal plans that are suited to your specific needs. By identifying trigger foods and providing nutritious alternatives, EatRight ensures you enjoy delicious, balanced meals without the discomfort of intolerances, supporting your overall health and well-being with every bite.
- Meal planning & Recipes
EatRight makes management of food intolerances easy with individually tailored meal planning and recipes that answer your personal dietary needs. It will help to determine the triggers of your foods and then create a meal plan that avoids intolerant ingredients in food while keeping a balanced and nutritious diet. The EatRight program consists of various meal plans that are suitable for vegan, pescatarian or even someone who prefers gluten-free food. Our food experts team up with you to make a meal plan that fits what you like, what your body needs, and how you live your life.
Every meal plan comes with a great variety of delicious, easy recipes to make, using safe, alternative ingredients, so you don't ever feel limited in food choice.
Through precise recipes and continued support, EatRight allows you to have a mixed and satisfying diet that is yet well-conducted, thereby allowing one to focus only on health and well-being without worry. So, what are you waiting for? Download the app and register with RightLife today to have better control over your food intolerances.
